The unstoppable power that is Lee’s Summit West football conquered another team.

The Titans blew past Kearney 42-14 in the Class 5 semifinal Nov. 22 at home to earn the right to compete for a state title.

“The key factor is this family we have out here,” Lee’s Summit West head coach Royce Boehm said. “These kids that every day go to school with each other and every day go to practice with each other. They love each other. It’s a brotherhood these kids have. This brotherhood has been here for 10 years. It’s a very, very special place out here.”

Lee’s Summit West was hot on both sides of the ball despite the below freezing temperatures outside. It was that execution that earned the Titans a solid victory.

“We come here every week and we practice and watch film every day,” Lee’s Summit West senior wide receiver Monte Harrison said. “I couldn’t ask for a better team. We just come out here and play our hearts out. I wouldn’t want to be with anybody else.”

The Titans started things out on their second possession on the 16-yard line. They fumbled on the next play but recovered it, losing yards to the 12-yard line. Then a pass to Harrison picked up a first down on the 27-yard line and a carry by junior wide receiver Brenner Clemons earned another first down on the 39-yard line.

Then senior quarterback Thomas Ganaden found Harrison for a 61-yard touchdown at the 3:55 minute mark to put the Titans ahead 7-0.

“Play makers make plays,” Harrison said. “Not much I can really say. I just went out there and did whatever I could to get the win.”

Lee’s Summit West’s defense recovered a Kearney fumble on the 40-yard line and the Titans turned the possession into a score. Clemons ran the ball in three yards for a touchdown with 8:26 left in the second quarter.

“We were underrated all year,” Lee’s Summit West defensive back Dwane Simmons said of the Titan defense. “We just wanted to make a statement that we are nothing to play with. We are a great defense. We can defend any team we put our mind to.”

After forcing Kearney to punt, the Titans scored again, this time on a 35-yard pass from Ganaden to Clemons to give Lee’s Summit West a 21-0 advantage at halftime.

The Bulldogs scored in the third quarter on a 31-yard pass from senior quarterback Austin Hinck to junior wide receiver Zach Davis for 69 yards, cutting the lead to 21-7. But Lee’s Summit West retaliated with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ganaden to Harrison for a score, putting the Titans ahead 28-7.

Lee’s Summit West scored again before the third quarter ended on a 3-yard carry by junior running back Ryan Williams. And in the fourth quarter, after forcing yet another Bulldog punt, the Titans got a touchdown on a 4-yard carry by Clemons, making the score 42-7 and starting the running clock.

“That’s what’s so special,” Boehm said. “We can throw the football and we can run the football. That’s what’s so special about these kids.”

Kearney had one last touchdown with less than three minutes remaining in the game on a 34-yard carry by senior running back Brock Broughton.

Now Lee’s Summit West travels to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, their first trip since their last state championship in 2010.

“We hope to win state,” Simmons said. “We are going to celebrate tonight and get back on it tomorrow.”

The Titans, 12-1, face Parkway Central, 13-1, at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 30. They plan on preparing for this team the same as any other team.

“Practice, practice,” Harrison said. “Film, film. Repeat, repeat.”

“We are going to work our butts off,” Boehm added. “We are going to get after film, break stuff down starting tonight. We have to keep moving down the road.”

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